Game-board



(No ModeL) Q s Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. S. POST.

GAME BOARD.

No. 259,042. Patented June 6, 1882.

UNITED STATES PATE T O FICE.

JUD SON S. POST, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

GAME-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,042, dated June 6, 1882,

Application filed October 27, 1880. Renewed January 12, 1882. (No model.) I

invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specification. I This invention relates to the class of toys and games, and has forits main object amusement with or without instruction of mental arithmetic-addition and subtraction.

My invention consists of a table suitably supported, with a series of pins, constituting ten, more or less, acentral rod or lever with a suspended ball for knocking down the pins, and a connecting means for setting up the knocked-down pins simultaneously through the agency of the central lever.

My invention also consists of atable having a series of impressed or otherwise formed numbers on the upper surface of the table, in combination with a series of ten-pins capable of being erected over or alongside of the numbers, and a central rod with suspended ball for knocking down one or more of -the pins during .a play, whereby the player is exercised in mental arithmetic-addition and subtraction.

My invention also consists of a table suitably supported, with a series of pins, a means for connecting all the pins below the table, and a device operated by pressure from above the table for setting up all the knocked-down pins simultaneously.

My invention also consists .of a table suitably supported, with a series of pins connected bottom view of the same, showing the method of connecting the pins to the disk. Fig. 3 is avertical central sectional view taken through the line a m of Fig. 2.

In the annexed drawings, forminga partof this specification, the letter A represents a table, preferably circular, of any desired size and thickness, supported upon three or more and the numbers may be .painted thereon in the irregular order as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings. By arranging the numbers on the upper surface of the table they can be rcadil y examined and countedin the play, and by an ran gin gthem-l to 10-irregularl y, so as to aggregate in addition fifty-five, will require more science and skill in knocking down the pins corresponding to the high numbers. In the center of the table is formed an opening, b, having female screw-threads to receive the male threads of the socket orsleeve C,as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This sleeve 0 is formed with an exterior shoulder, c, for support and rigidity, and with an interior shoulder, cl, for the purpose hereinafter stated. The pins D, (ten, more or less,) of the shape and style known as ten-pins, are arranged around the upper edge of the table on or opposite the respective numbers, substantially as seenin Fig. 1, and each pin is recessed at its base and provided with an eye-screw or loop, 6, for the passage of acontinuous cord or other similar flexible material.

The letter E represents a suspended collar or disk having a central aperture or opening provided with female screw-threads to receive the male threads at the lower end of the vertical rod or lever F. This collar or disk, capable of a vertical movement, is also provided on its peripheral edge with a series of loops or screw-eyes, la, for the passage of the continuous cord, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. To this collar or disk E the pins are connected by means of a cord, 71 which is first secured temporarily at one end to a selected loop or eye in the periphery of the disk, and from thence extended through the proper aperture near the circumferential edge of the table, thence through the staple or loop in the base of a pin, and thence back through the same aperture in the table to the next eye or loop in the periphery ofthe disk, through which the cord is passed, and the same process of operation is made until all the pins are supplied with the cord, when it is passed back to the starting-point and tied to the other end of the cord, thus making a continuous medium of power, operating on the base of each piece by means of the lever or rod F, and enabling the whole number to be simultaneously erected or set up. This collar, in connection with the vertical lever and its retracting-spring, should be of such a weight as to preserve the pins in their standing position and permit the samc,when knocked down, to lie in a horizontal position for the count. To the upper end of the vertical rod or lever is fixed and suspended a cord, 1', or other suitable material, carrying at its lower end a ball, preferably made of rubber, for the purpose hereinafter stated. This vertical rod or lever passed through the centrally-arranged sleeve 0 is surrounded by a coil -spring, at, having a support upon the shoulder d within the sleeve, and said spring is prevented from upward displacement by means of a shoulder formed on the rod. The offiee of this coil-spring, arranged within the sleeve and surrounding the lever, is to relieve the pressure of the lever or rod upon the disk, to slacken the tension upon the cord, so that the pins may fall under the influence of the contact, and to retain the lever in a normal condition for action in setting up the knockeddown pins.

Operation Hold the ball out the length of the cord at an incline. Gently swing it. Then let go, so it may come in contact with the standing pins and revolve around the central vertical rod. As the cord winds around and unwinds from the rod the ball hits and knocks down one or more of the pins. The numbers are added by adding up the numbers represented by the knocked-down pins by each throw of the ball, which makes a count in the game. In subtraction the maximum or total of all the numbers represented by the ten-pins is fifty-five. After each throw add the numbers represented by the pins standing. Then subtraotthe productfrom thetotal--fil'ty-five--and the result will give the amount made. To erect the pins, gentlypress with the hand on the top of the vertical rod or lever, and the connecting medium of power will act on the base of each fallen pin and erect all simultaneously in an instant for the next player, thereby consuming no time after the count in erecting the pins.

This game is very amusing and instructing to children.

I claim the right to vary the construction and substitution of material without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-' 1. The combination,substantially as hereinbefore described, ot' a supported table having a series of pins, a central rod or lever with a suspended ball for knocking down the pins, and a connecting means for setting up the fallen pins simultaheously through the agency of the central rod or lever.

2. The combination of a table having a series of impressed or otherwise formed numbers on the upper surface of the table, a series of pins arranged over or alongside of the numbers, and a central rod with suspended ball for knocking down the pins, whereby the player is exercised in mental arithmetic-additionand subtraction--substantially as hereiubefore described.

3. In combination with a supported table, a means for connecting all the pins below the table, and a device operated by pressure from above the table for setting up all the knockeddown pins simultaneously, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a supported table having a central passage for an operating rod or lever and a series of apertures, a disk or collar having a series of loops or books, a series of pins, and a continuous cord connecting the disk and all the pins, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, substantially as described, of a supported table having a central opening and a series of apertures near the circumferential edge, a series of ten-pins, a suspended disk withleontinuous cord, and a central lever or rod with a retractin g-sprin g, substantially as described.

6. In combination with the suspended disk, continuous cord, and pins, the central rod or lever with the coil-spring, for the purposes hereinbefore stated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JUDSON S. POST.

\Vitnesses:

M. J. WINE, J AS. H. CLARK. 

